Locking device



Apr. 24, 1923. I 1,452,938

E. SI EGEL.

LOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24 1921 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Apr. 24-, 1923. 1,452,938

4 E. SIEGEL. 3 LOCKING DEVICE "1 Filed Feb. 24'. 1921 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ERNEST SIEGEL, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR TO AXLE LOCK CORPORATION, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. .i i

LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed February 24, 19 21.

To aZl 10/ 20770 it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST SIEGEL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New. York and State 5 of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to locking'devioes for vehicles for the purpose of preventing their theft or unauthorized use. More particularly it relates to a locking device to be carried upon the steering post for locking the steering mechanism in a position to prevent operation or towing away of the vehicle forany considerable distance. Various locks of this type have heretofore been proposed, but have been unsatisfactory principally because they have been susceptible of tampering or injury by a thief or unauthorized person within a short interval of time'in such a manner as to be disabled sufficiently to enable the towing away or operation of the vehicle. Another objection to prior locks of this type has been that changes in the usual construction of the steering wheel and post have been necessary to apply the locking device, and that the means for attaching the lock to the vehicle are exposed, sufliciently to permit of tampering and removal or disabling of the lock.

An object of my invention is to provide a locking device for securing the steering or hand wheel to the steering post, which, when in a locked condition, will conceal and protect the attaching means and the operating parts against tampering, injury or removal with ordinary available tools, which will comply with the fire and police regulations of various localities by permitting movement of the vehicle for a short distance while in a locked position. but which will prevent operation or towing of the vehicle through any considerable distance from the place in which it has been left in a locked condition, which is sufiiciently strong and sturdy as to be capable of withstanding severe blows or shocks without disablement or removal, which can be attached to the common makes of machines'without changes in their steering mechanism, and which is simple, inexpensive and durable in construction.

' Other objects and'advantages will'be apparent from the following description and Serial No. 447,445.

the novel features of my invention will be particularly pointed out in claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the upper end of a steering column and wheel with a lock constructed in accordance with my invention connected thereto;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one face of the lock, per se;

Fig. 3 is an elevation at a different scale of the opposite face of the lock, with some of the parts broken away to show concealed parts;

Fig. at is a transverse section of the lock, taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of a portion of the lock;

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of another portion of the lock;

Fig. 7 'is a fragmentary section of still another portion of the lock, and

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan of the cover of the casing containing the lock operating mechanism.

1 In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I provide a circular disc 1' with-an aperture 2 for the passage of the relatively stationary column 3 of the usual steering mechanism of automobiles. The disc is provided upon one face with a pair of bosses land with sockets5 upon the other face and opposite the bosses. The disc is plated against the under side of and concentric with the usual steering wheel 6, and with two of the spokes of the wheel passing over the bosses. A U-bolt 7 passes over each of the two spokes referred to, with the free ends of the bolts passing through the bosses into the sockets Suitable means such as nuts 8 upon the ends of the arms of the bolt and within the sockets 5 prevents removal of the bolt and separation of the steering wheel and disc. Arcuate wedge blocks 9 may be interposed between the spokes and the bosses, and the bosses provided with curved upper surfaces, in order to adapt the attaching means to the wheels of different make automobiles in which the spokes may have different degrees of obliqueness with respect to the axis of the steering column. The blocks also prevent bending of the spokes when the nuts 8 are tightened in clamping the spokes tightly to the bosses.

A split element 10 has ajhub portion embracing the steering column and clamped thereto by means of screws 11 extending be tween. the sections of the element. The screws have their heads countersunk in cavities 12 in one of the sections and are threaded into the other of the sections. The ele-' ment has a flange portion against which the disc 1 abuts, and an extension 13 of the flange portion overhanging the disc for preventing separation of the disc and element when the sections of the element are secured together but permitting rotation of the disc with respect to the element.

A casing 14 is secured to the section of the element having the cavities 12 by means of screws 15 that pass through the bottom wall of the casing and into the element, being accessible for attachment and removal solely from the interior of the casing. The casing is attached to the element in such a position that when in place it will cover the cavities 12 and prevent access being had to the heads of the screws 11 for the purpose of loosening or removing them. The bottom wall of the casing 1-1 is provided with a small aperture in which is fixed a sleeve 16 in a. suitable manner, such as by screw threads, a drive fit, soldering or welding. A locking bolt 17 is adapted to reciprocate and rotate in said sleeve and also pass through an aligned aperture 18 in the split element. The face of the disc 1 which abuts the split element is provided with one or more depressions 19 which come into alignment with the locking bolt and aperture 18 during rotation of the disc. A spring 20 is suitably supported within the casing and bears upon an end of the bolt so as to urge it through the casing wall and element into locking engagement with one of the depressions when a depression passes into alignment therewith. The end of the sleeve 16 which extends into the casing is provided with oppositely .disposed V-grooves 21. and a pin 22 extends transversely through the locking bolt and into the V-grooves. A lever 23, which is pivoted to the bottom wall of the casing by a screw 24. has an end disposed adjacent the sleeve 16 with a beveled cam surface 25 thereon for engagement with an extending end of the pin 22. Rotation of the lever in one direction will cause the cam surface 25 thereof to engage thepin 22 and cam it up the sides of the Vgrooves into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. The endwise movement imparted in this manner to the bolt 17 retracts it against the action of spring 20 from the disc 1 so as to release it for rotation. A spring 26 interposed between a lug of the casing. and the lever tends to shift thelatter in a direction opposite to that above described so as to release the pin 22 and permit the spring 20 to shift it endwise into locking engagement with the disc,

An end wall of the casing is provided with an aperture into which is threaded a market and which has therein a rotatable cylinder 29 operable by a key from the exterior of the casing. A pivoted plate 30 on the end wall protects the key hole against the entrance of dirt and water. The cylinder, upon its end which projects into the casing, carries a cam member 31 which is concentric with an operating cam 32 that is rotatably carried by the innenend of the lock, The operating cam is provided with spaced pins 33 that are engaged alternately by the cam member 31 and shifted thereby. ll hen the cylinder is rotated by a key, the cam member 31 will engage one of the pins 33 of the cam 32 and rotate the cam about the axis of the cylinder into or out of engagement with an end of the lever 23 to operate or release the same. lVhen the cam engages and rotates the lver 23 it is in a direction to cause a rotation of the pin 22 up the sides of the Vgrooves and retract the locking bolt from locking engagement with. the disc. lVhen the cam releases the lever 23 the spring 26 is effective to rotate the lever to release the pin to the action of the spring 20. The cam will be locked in one operative position or the other whenever the key is removed from the cylinder due to the construction of the lock.

The casing is provided with a removable closure 34 normally secured to the casing by screws 35 which pass through apertures 36 of the closure. The closure is provided at spaced points on its inner face with a depending loop 37 and an L-shaped arm 38. A bar 39 is slidably mounted in an end wall of the casing and when it is within the casing, and the closure is in place on the casing, the bar passes through the 10013 37 and under the offset end of the L-shaped arm, so that the closure cannot be removed as long as the bar is within the casing. The bar is provided with a notch 40 in which a tooth 41 of the l.ver 23 may engage, when the latter is in a position to release the pin 22 and permit the bolt to move to locking position. The engagement of the tooth and notch. therefore, prevents removal of the closure whenever the locking bolt is free to move to locking position or is in locking position. lVhen the cylinder 29 is operated to rotate the lever 23 and cam the bolt to unloc ed position the tooth41 will leave the notch and permit removal of the bar. A. small set screw 42 carried by a lug of the casing may be set to engage with the bar 39 and prevent it from jarring out of the easing when the bar is released from tooth 41. The casing is also provided with a lug 43 Which depends into the casing adjacent the end of the cylinder for preventing the working out of the screws 44 which secure the cam member and cam upon the lock. The closure may also have a rib 45 on its inner face for engaging the outer face of the bar 39 and acting as a guide therefor. The casing Walls may have lugs 46 and 47 for guiding the bar and also preventing binding.

Assuming the parts of the lock to be disassembled, the steering wheel 6 is removed from the steering post, and the disc 1 se cured to its under side by the U-bolts 7 that pass over the spokes, after which the wheel is reapplied to the steering post. The sections of the split element are next clamped to the steering column with the flanges 13 overhanging the circumference of the disc 1 to prevent separation of the element and disc. The casing 14 is next applied to the split element by the screws 15- which pass through the bottom wall of the casing, after which the closure 34 is attached to the casing by the screws ith the cylinder lock in a position to hold the lever 23 in its extreme counter clockwise position (referring to Fig. 3) the bar 39 is inserted into the casing as indicated in Fig. 3 and secured therein by the tightening of the screw 42. This completes the assembly of the lock. The steering wheel with its attached disc 1 can be rotated in the usual manner for steering the automobile. If it is desired to lock the steering wheel against rotation, the cylinder lock is operated to shift the cam 32 away from the lever 23 whereupon the spring 26 will rotate the lever into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, with the tooth 41 engaging in the notch 40 to prevent removal of the bar 39, and release the pin 22. The spring 20 will thereupon force the locking bolt against the disc 1. As soon as an attempt is made to rotate the steering wheel and a depression 19 is brought into alignment with the aperture 18 of the split element, the locking bolt will be snapped into the same by the spring 20 and further rotation of the steering wheel will be prevented. The depressions 19 are arranged on the disc 1 so as to cause the locking to occur in any' one of a plurality of positions in which the front wheels will be cramped various extents to the left of their normal forward position. \Vith this arrangement the device can be locked with the wheels in any position and as soon as an attempt is made to steer the vehicle the bolt will become effective tolock the. vehicle with the wheels always cramped to the left. The lock therefore complies with the fire and police regulations of many localities by permitting locking ofthe wheels in a left position only,

through loosening or removal of the screws 11. The casing prevents loosening or removal of the screws 11 and the casing cannot be removed until the closure 34 has been removed so as to give access to the screws, The closure cannot be removed until 15. the lock has been operated to unlock the bar 39 and the disc 1; and the bar has been removed. It will thus .be seen that when the device constructed in accordance with my invention has been assembled and locked it cannot be removed or effectively tampered with short of actual destruction, and since I propose to make the parts of case hardened or tempered steel, actual destruction will be so slow and diflicult that thieves will seek vehicles less effectively protected.

It will be obvious that various changes in the details and arrangements herein described and illustrated may be made within the principle and scope of the invention.

1' claim:

1. In a lock for vehicles having a steering wheel and a relatively stationary steering column, the combination of a disc, means for securing the disc to the spokes of the steering wheel for rotation therewith. a split element having means on each part overhanging the disc to prevent separation of the element and disc but permit of their relative rotation. means for clamping the parts of the split element together and to the steering column, and a locking device carried by one of the parts settable to lock the disc and split element against relative rotary movement.

2. In a lock for vehicles having a steering wheel and a relatively stationary steering column, the combination of a disc, means for securing the disc to the spokes of the steering wheel for rotation therewith, a split element having means on each part overhanging the disc to prevent separation of the element and disc but permit of their relative rotation, means for clamping the parts of the split element together and to the steering column. and means se cured to one of the parts to prevent access to the clamping means to loosen or remove the same and settable to lock the disc and split element against relative rotary movement. 3

In a lock for vehicles having a steering wheel and a relatively stationary steering column, the combination of a disc,

means for securing the disc to the steering wheel for rotation therewith and accessible for removal fromthe opposite face of the disc, asplit element having means on each part overhangingthe disc to prevent separation of the element and ,disc but permit locking the disc, against movement relative tothe split element, p 2. Ina lock forv vehicles having a steering wheel. and a relativelv stationarv steering column, the combination of ;a disc, means for securing the disc to the steering wheel for rotation therewith and accessible for removal from. the opposite face of the disc, a split element having means on each part overhangingthe disc to prevent separation. of. the element and disc butlpermit of their relative rotation, means accessible for operation from one of the parts of the element for clamping both parts thereof together and to the steering column, a casing, means accessible through the interior of the casing for securing it to said one of the partsof the element to prevent access to the clamping means in a manner to loosen the same, a closure for the casing. abolt operable through a wall of the casing and the element to engage with and lock the disc against movement relative to the element, and means within the casing and controlled. from the .exteriorthereof for operating said bolt to lockor unlock the disc and the element, and for preventing removal ofthe closure from thecasing whenever the disc is locked to the element. i i

v 5. In a lock for vehicles having a st.eer ing wheel and a relatively stationary steering column, the combination of -a split element having an end bearing surface, means for clamping the parts of the elementtogether and to the steering column, a mem ber rotatively held between theparts vof the element and against the bearing surface in all rotative positions. when the element is clamped to the steering column, and removable by theseparationof the parts-ofthe element, means for, clamping the. steering wheel, to the member andremovable from the face of the member abutting thesplit element, acasing. means accessible through the interior of the casing for securing it. to the element so as to, prevent Q removal or loosening of the clamping means, a bolt extending through a wall of the casing and adapted when n one position to lock the member and element against relative rotation, and means within the casing and controlled from the exterior thereof for operating said bolt to lock or unlock the element and member.

6. In a lock for vehicles having a steering wheel and a relatively stationary steerrotatively held between the parts of the ele ment and against the bearing surface in all rotative positions, when the element is clamped to the steering column, and removable by separation of the parts of the element, means for clamping the steering wheel to the member and removable from the face of the member abutting the split element and concealed on the other faces, a casing, a removable closure for said casing, means accessible through the interior of the casing for securing it to the element so as to prevent removal of or loosening of the clamping means, a bolt for locking the member and element against relative rotation, and means within the casing and controlled from the exterior thereof for operating the bolt to locking position and for preventing removal of the closure from the casing. 1

7 In a lock for vehicles having a steering wheel and a relatively stationary steering column, the combination of a split element having an end bearing surface, means for clamping the parts of the element together and to the steering column, a member rotativcl v held between the parts of the element and against the bearing surface in all rotative positions, when the element is clamped to the steering column, and removable by the separation of the parts of the element, means for clampingthe steering wheel to the member and removable from the face of the member abutting the split element, and concealed on all other faces, a casing, means accessible through the interior of the casing for securing it to said element to prevent access to the clamping means of the element a bolt for locking said element against relative rotation, a spring within the casing urging said bolt to locking position, and means within the casing and controlledfrom the exterior thereof for releasing the bolt to the action of its spring and for preventing removal ofthe closure of the casing.

8 Ina lock for vehicles having aste ering wheel and a relatively, stationary steering column, the combination of a disc, means for securing the disc to the spokes of the steering wheel for rotation therewith and accessible' for removal from theopposite face of the disc, a split element having means on each part overhanging the disc to prevent separation of the element and disc but permit of their relative rotation, means accessible for operation from one of the parts of the element for clamping both parts thereof together and to the steering column, a casing, means accessible through the interior of the casing for securing it to said one of the parts of the element to prevent access to the clamping means in a manner to loosen the same. a closure for the casing, a bolt operable through a wall of the casing and the element to engage with and lock the disc against movement relative to the element, a spring within the casingurging said bolt to locking position, and means within the casing and controlled from the exterior thereof for releasing the bolt to the action of the spring and for preventing removal of the closure of the casing.

9. In a vehicle lock for relatively moving parts, the combination of two elements one secured to each of said parts and having abutting faces, a casing carried by one of said parts, a bolt passing through a wall of the casing and adapted to lock the elements against relative movement, a sleeve supporting the bolt for sliding and rotary movement in and through the casing wall, said sleeve having an oblique cam surface in one side wall, a pin carried by the bolt and engaging the cam surface, a spring within the casing and tendingto shift the bolt through the wall of the casing to locking position, and means within the casing and controlled from the exterior thereof for forcing the pin along the cam surface of the sleeve to cause a retraction of the bolt against its spring to unlocking position or to release the pin and permit the bolt to be projected to locking position.

10. In a vehicle lock for relatively moving parts, the combination of a locking bolt, a sleeve rotatably and slidably supporting the bolt in one of the parts for movement into and out of locking engagement with the other of the parts, a spring normally urging the bolt to locking position, said sleeve having a cam surface extending both longitudinally and circumferentially thereof, a pin carried by the bolt and in engagement with the cam surface, means including locking mechanism for rotating the pin and bolt to cause a retraction of the bolt by the reaction of the pin and surface, or to release the bolt to the action of its spring.

11. In a locking device for two relatively moving parts, the combination of means including a bolt for preventing relative movement of the parts, a sleeve in which said bolt reciprocates between unlocked and locking positions, a pin carried by the bolt and guided by the sleeve, a pivoted lever having a cam surface for engaging the pin and through it shifting the bolt to unlocked polease it to the action of. the first named spring. a c

12. In a locking device for two relatively moving parts, the combination of means including a bolt for preventing relative 'movement of the parts, means supporting the bolt for reciprocating and rotary movement between unlocked and locking positions, said supporting means having a cam groove, a pin carried by the ,bolt and co-acting with the cam groove, a spring urging the bolt to locking position,"and lock controlled means for shifting said pin in said groove to retract the bolt to unlocked position, or to release it and allow it to be operated by the spring to locking position 13. In a locking device for two relatively moving parts, the combination of means in cluding a bolt for preventing relative movement of the parts, a sleeve for supporting the ho t for reciprocating and rotary movement between locked and unlocked positions, said sleeve having a V-shaped groove in one end, a pin carried by the bolt and disposed in said groove, a spring urging said bolt to locking position with the pin at the apex of the groove, and lock controlled means for engaging the pin to cam it up one side of the groove against the action of the spring and retract the bolt to unlocked position, or to release the pin and permit movement of the bolt by the spring to locking position.

14:. In a locking device for two relatively moving parts, the combination of means including a bolt for preventing relative movenent of the parts, a sleeve for supporting the bolt for reciprocating and rotary movement between locked and unlocked positions, said sleeve having a V-shaped groove in one end, a pin carried by the bolt and disposed in said groove, a spring urging said bolt to locking position with the pin at the apex of the groove, a lever having a cam surface adapted to engage the pin and cam it up one side of the groove against the action of the spring'to retract the bolt when the lever is rotated in one direction, or to release it when rotated in the opposite direction, a spring for urging the lever to rotate in one direction, and a lock controlled device for rotating the lever in the direction opposed by the last named spring.

15. In a locking device for two relatively moving parts, the. combination of means including a bolt for preventing relative movement of the parts, means supporting the bolt for reciprocating and rotary movement between unlocked and locking positions, said supporting means and bolt having cooperative cam means whereby rotary movement of the pin will also cause simultaneous longitudinal endwise movement thereof, a spring urging the bolt to locking position,

and lock controlled means for rotating said pin to retract the bolt to unlocked position or to release it and allow it to be operated by the spring to locking position.

16. In a lock for vehicles having a steering wheel and a relatively stationary steering column, the combination of a split element having an end bearing surface, means for clamping the parts of the element together and t0 the steering column, a member rotatively held between the parts of the element and against the bearing surface in all rotative positions when the element is clamped to the steering column, and removable by the separation of the parts of the element, means for clamping the steering wheel to the member and removable from the face of the member abutting the split element, and a locking device carriedby one or the parts of the split element operable to lock the element and member against relative rotation and to p event access to the clamping means between tle parts oi? the split element.

17. In a lock for vehicles having two rel atively rotating parts of the steering mechanism, a pair of elements having an overhanging engagement, one with another, to prevent their axial separation but permit of their relative rotation, the element having the overhang being split to permit of its connection to the other element, means for clamping the parts of the split element together and to one of the said parts of the steering mechanism, means for securing the other of the elements to the other of the parts of the steering mechanism, said last named means being non-accessible for removal and release when the elements are connected and accessible when separated, and means including a lock for preventing;- access to said clamping means sufiicient to release them from the part of the steering mechanism to which they are clamped and for preventing relative rotation of the elements.

18. In a lock for vehicles having a steering wheel and a relatively stationary steering column, an element carried by the wheel and having a peripheral flange thereon, a split element embracing the column and also the flange of the other element to prevent axial separation from but permit rotary movement relatively to said element, means for clamping the parts of the split element together and to said column, and mechanism for protecting said clamping means against loosening orremoval from the column and for preventing relative rotary movement of said elements.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

- ERNEST SIEGEL.

(ill 

